Category Archives: Uncategorized

October 21, 1954 –The episode of Climax!, an anthology series – broadcast live, on this evening was the first time. James Bond (Barry Nelson) appeared on-screen in Casino Royale, and more than half a century later Bond is still making movies. Ian Fleming received three offers for the movie rights to his Casino Royale novelContinue reading “The first James Bond was an American”

Although much of the world’s situation is rather dire, Halloween is just 10 days away. Rather than continuing to doom-scroll, I urge readers to begin purchasing those poison laced candies. (If you find yourself in a pinch though, a few random coins from a foreign country, will do in a pinch. Loose change, especially pennies,Continue reading “It’s almost here”

October 20, 1955 –Harry Belafonte, advocate for civil rights and humanitarian causes, recorded the famous Day-O (Banana Boat Song) on this date. This song was first recorded in 1952 by Edric Conner, a musician from Trinidad who sang it with his band The Carribeans as Day De Light. The song re-emerged in 1956 when theContinue reading “Please sir, give me an accurate count”

October 20, 1818 – In the Convention of 1818, Canada and the United States established the 49th Parallel as their mutual boundary – known as the International Border – for most of its length, stretching from the Lake of the Woods to the Rocky Mountains. The International Boundary is often referred to as the world’sContinue reading “Hopefully we’re not considering a wall up there”

October 20, 1939 – The ninth Marx Brothers film, At the Circus, premiered on this date. The Marx Brothers had been out of favor at MGM since the sudden death in 1936 of their producer and benefactor Irving Thalberg during the production of A Day at the Races. So in the middle of the productionContinue reading “The flies don’t practice law and I don’t walk on the ceiling.”

October 20, 1985 –The first of two reunion films, I Dream of Jeannie: 15 Years Later, starring Barbara Eden, Wayne Rogers, and Bill Daly aired on NBC on this date. Larry Hagman was unavailable to reprise his role as Tony Nelson reportedly because he was too busy filming his CBS series Dallas at the time.Continue reading “She blinked her eyes a few more times”

Today is Diwali, , one of the biggest and brightest of all the Hindu celebrations. An ancient festival celebrating the triumph of light over dark and good over evil; the day is also significant in other religions including Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism. Diwali is derived from the Sanskrit word, “deepawali”, meaning “row of lights”. TheContinue reading “It’s sometimes called Deepavali or Deepawali”

Several sources, including the eponymously named Facebook page, lists today as International Gin and Tonic Day. Some cite April 9th as the date, although that is usually seen as National Gin and Tonic Day. I’m up for celebrating on both dates. (But don’t confuse it with World Gin Day which always falls on the secondContinue reading “I make gin disappear – what’s your superpower?”

October 19, 1953 –After Julius La Rosa had finished singing Manhattan on Arthur Godfrey Time, the host (and general scum bag) Arthur Godfrey fired him on the air, announcing, “that was Julie’s swan song with us.” Unaware the firing was coming (or what the phrase “swan song” meant), La Rosa tearfully met with Godfrey afterContinue reading “So much for loyalty from your employer”

October 19, 1990 –Kevin Costner’s directorial debut, Dances with Wolves, starring himself, Mary McDonnell, Graham Greene, and Rodney Grant, opened in Washington D.C. on this date. Kevin Costner’s daughter Annie Costner, playing Stands With A Fist as a child, is seen running away from the Pawnee party that killed her family in the dream sequence.Continue reading “Dances with Wolves premiered”